Staff Reporter :
Between January 2022 and June 2024, an estimated 404 million students globally have been affected by school closures due to extreme weather events, according to a new World Bank report.
These widespread disruptions spanned across at least 81 countries, 63 of which are low- and middle-income nations. Schools were forced to shut down temporarily in response to floods, storms, and heatwaves, the report revealed.
The report, which examined the detrimental impacts of climate change on education in low- and middle-income countries, also proposed solutions for using education as a tool to spur climate action. It further estimates that a one-time investment of $18.51 per child could help mitigate the impact of climate-related disruptions.
In addition to the global data, the report highlighted that school closures in Bangladesh from March 2020 to September 2021, and again in February 2022, disrupted the education of approximately 37 million children. These closures have exacerbated existing gaps in basic literacy and numeracy skills, which were already a concern prior to the pandemic.
The report, titled *Choosing Our Future: Education for Climate Action*, was published on Thursday and provides new analysis showing that the climate crisis is hitting education hardest in low-income countries. On average, students in these nations lose 18 school days annually due to climate-related events, compared to only 2.4 days lost in wealthier countries.
The report also warned of the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. A child born in 2024 will, over their lifetime, experience three times more floods, five times more droughts, and 36 times more heatwaves compared to a 10-year-old in 1970. Even when schools are open, learning is being affected by the climate crisis.
For instance, in Brazil, students in the poorest 50 per cent of municipalities could lose up to half a year’s learning due to heat alone.
In the summer of 2024, the government of Bangladesh ordered the closure of all schools, madrasahs, and colleges for seven days as the Meteorological Department warned of a “severe heatwave” sweeping across the country, with concerns that the mercury level could break historical records.
“Young people are directly impacted by this crisis, and they are eager to act. Yet education systems are not delivering the information, skills, and opportunities they need in a climate-affected world,” said Mamta Murthi, Vice President of the People Vice Presidency at the World Bank.
She further added, “Education is not only under threat from climate change—it is massively overlooked in climate financing. Past analyses have shown that a mere 1.5 per cent of climate finance goes to education.”
However, the report offers a hopeful solution, stating that with a modest investment of $18.51 per child, schools could better safeguard learning from climate change. This could be achieved through measures such as improving classroom temperatures, building resilient infrastructure, and training teachers in adaptation strategies.
Luis Benveniste, Global Director of Education at the World Bank, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Improving school infrastructure, ensuring learning continuity, and leveraging students and teachers as effective agents of positive change can all contribute to a more livable planet.”
The report also included surveys highlighting the disconnect between the eagerness of young people in low- and middle-income countries to address climate change and the lack of knowledge and skills provided in schools.
Around 65 per cent of young people across eight countries believe their futures are at risk if they do not develop green skills, but 60 per cent said they felt they had not learned enough about climate change during their education.
The report provides evidence, data, on-the-ground examples, and a policy agenda to support efforts in countries aiming to make their education systems more resilient in the face of climate change.